Public utility firms given 3 weeks to fix unsightly wires in Baguio City

Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong gave public utility companies beginning September 4, 2024 to overhaul their cabling systems to eliminate the hazards posed by these infrastructure's unkempt and unsightly state.

The mayor said that although there have been significant gains since the city began addressing the problem on the dangerous and unsightly cable lines commonly referred to as ‘spaghetti wires’, the serious risks they pose to life and property have remained.

"We have been receiving reports of telecommunication posts or wires left lying on streets causing accidents among pedestrians including elders and children. There were also complaints of dangling, tangled, sagging or low lying wires in various parts of the city that pose danger to vehicles passing by," Magalong said.

He cited the case where an electric post was felled by a wayward truck affecting power and telecommunication lines. 

Repairs were done but some telcos carelessly left some of the wires hanging and low lying posing danger to passersby.

The mayor claimed that even the Benguet Electric Cooperative Inc. (BENECO) had repeatedly called out the cable and telcos over the frequent occurrence of hooked cable and lines affecting electric lines and causing unwanted power outages.

A dangerous incident was also pointed out by the power firm where telco poles were found touching primary and secondary power lines posing grave danger.

"It is high time for our partner utility companies to fast track the correction of their poles and the tidying of their cablings. Let's not wait for a serious incident to happen before we act. Let's do it in three weeks," the mayor said.

Within that period, utility companies are expected to fix, relocate or remove their poles and the tangled and dangling wires and ensure the safety of these infrastructure.

The mayor said they will come up with a guideline on the minimum height for installing cables from the ground level to ensure the safety of the public.

Lines that will remain uncorrected after the deadline will be cut and dropped, warned Magalong.